According to a press release issued on July 22, NC DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler has named Drexdal Pratt the new Director of the Division of Health Services Regulation, effective August 1, 2010. For the past 12 years, Pratt has been the chief of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Jeff Hortonhas been the acting [...]

The Winston-Salem Journal is reporting that it appears the state is no longer considering cutting about $10 million from the Medicaid dental budget. Sen. Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, the Senate’s head budget writer, said yesterday that the proposal, which was in Gov. Bev Perdue’s budget, is no longer being pursued. “The cuts will not be taken,” [...]

As you may know, the 2010 State Medical Facilities Plan for North Carolina included a new Single Specialty Ambulatory Surgery Facility Demonstration Project.  The State Medical Facilities Plan essentially allows for three new single-specialty ambulatory surgery facilities in specific areas, each with two operating rooms.  The three eligible areas and their respective application deadlines and [...]

SAVE THE DATE The State of Healthcare in North Carolina: Hospitals & Surgery Centers Complimentary Seminar May 26, 2010 3 – 6 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte 201 East Trade Street Charlotte CLE credit pending. McGuireWoods invites you to save the date to join us for an afternoon panel discussion highlighting some of our region’s leaders [...]

Becker’s Hospital Review is reporting that six hospitals in North Carolina are being asked to repay approximately $2.5 million in overpayments made by the state health plan, which is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. The full report can be found here. The News and Observer also has an article, which can [...]

SAVE THE DATE 2009 North Carolina Health Care Provider Conference: Confronting Quality & Cost Challenges September 24, 2009 The Westin Charlotte 601 South College Street Charlotte, North Carolina 11:30 a.m., Registration Noon, Program 5 p.m., Cocktail Reception (Sponsored by Marsh) Registration Fee – $35 McGuireWoods LLP invites you to save the date for our annual [...]

From Hospital to Home: Paying for the Next Evolution of Post-Acute and Senior Care Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:30 a.m. (Registration) 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Marriott Hotel City Center 500 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 Complimentary Seminar Reform to post-acute and senior care healthcare delivery systems looms large on the horizon. Industry groups [...]

The March 10, 2009 issue of the North Carolina Healthcare Report is now available. Please click here to download. document.getElementById(“post-539-blankimage”).onload();

The first two issues of NC Legislative HealthWatch are now available free of charge upon request through NC Healthcare Report. If you would like to receive your complimentary issue, please contact Harry Kaplan of McGuireWoods Consulting at hkaplan@mwcllc.com. You can reach NC Legislative HealthWatch at: www.nchealthwatch.com.  A preview of the first issue is after the [...]

  As of the end of the fiscal year ending in 2008, all public hospitals in North Carolina are required to disclose to the public the total compensation of its top four highest paid employees and five other key employees. This has not been the rule in North Carolina in the past.   In 2007 [...]

Last month, the North Carolina Court of Appeals reversed a final decision by the Division of Health Services Regulation that its proposed relocation, expansion and addition of radiation therapy services required a Certificate of Need.  Originally, the Division of Health Services Regulation ruled that a CON would not be required.  Shortly after the initial decision, [...]

A bill in the North Carolina House of Representatives, H.R. 2196, would require the Division of Medical Assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services to pay the same rate to long-term acute care hospitals as it pays to short-term acute care hospitals that provide services to Medicaid patients.    If passed, the new [...]

We are delighted to announce that our next Carolinas Healthcare Update Teleconference will be held on December 12, 2007 at 12:30 Eastern and will feature Director of the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Bob Fitzgerald. We are thrilled that Bob has agreed to speak with us and give us his thoughts on the [...]